Burnishing Steel???

[Crayola]

I was thinking about blade finishes today, and I remembered I know LITTLE about burnishing. I think burnishing compacts the surface of steel, thereby making it shiny. Any better descriptions out there? Can I burnish a knife I make of 440-C at RC-58ish? What do I need? How do I do it? Thanks!

 

[Frank Niro]

I don't believe that burnishing any hardend steel will do anything to it.You woould a material harder than the steel you want to burnish which is a method to compact the surface of materials.If you don't want to polish then use progressively finer sanpaper sizes to get to where you want to go. Fran Niro

 

[george tichbourne]

Burnishing is basically rubbing the rough surface of the material smooth. It folds over the edges of scratches and lumps giving a smoother and more reflective surface.

Shot peening is a form of burnishing as is tumbling with stainless steel media. Hand rubbing of Rc58 material will have little effect.

 

[Crayola]

Thanks guys!

I don't know what I was thinking when I started dreaming up this idea. Any burnishing I have heard done was always done on sword parts that were SOFT! OOPS!

Thanks.

 

[LaMess]

Don't sharpening steels burnish? What about those little knives that come with the khukris isn't one for burnishing the edge? Could Rc58 be burnished with Rc62+?

Lynn